NEWPORT PAGNELL– Dr. Ulrich Bez is to succeed Bob Dover as the Chief Executive of Aston Martin Lagonda.  

Dr Bez, who is 56 years of age, is one of the world's foremost and most innovative automotive engineers and strategists with worldwide experience of the design and manufacture of sports cars.

Dr. Ulrich Bez

Photo: Ford

During his 28 years career in the motor industry he has been responsible for product design and development at Porsche, BMW and Daewoo. Since the beginning of this year he has been a business adviser to Ford.  

In addition to his new responsibilities as Chairman and Chief Executive of Land Rover Bob Dover is to remain a member of Aston Martin's Board of Directors with Ken Giles continuing as Managing Director. 

During his time with Porsche Ulrich Bez directed the design, development and introduction of the 911 Turbo, the Carrera RS, the 968 and the 993. He was also responsible for Porsche's Vehicle Research and Development, the establishment of Porsche Engineering in the USA and the company's motor sport programmes in Formula I, the World Sportscar Championship, Indiannapolis and Le Mans. 

He held similar positions of responsibility for product design and development at both BMW and Daewoo and has worked as an independent business adviser to ABB and Ford.  

"This year Aston Martin is on course to establish new, all time sales and production records" said Bob Dover. "Key to this success has to be Aston Martin's performance in global markets and both the USA and Germany in particular. Germany is now the world's second largest market for luxury sports cars. Ulrich Bez is a brilliant, innovative engineer and strategist with tremendous global experience. The unique insight and expertise which he brings to Aston Martin will be vital and crucial to the future long term success and development of the company and its goal of becoming as significant to Britain as Ferrari is to Italy." 

Ulrich Bez was born at Bad Cannstatt in Germany in November 1943, has a Doctorate in Engineering from the University of Stuttgart and is the author of more than 40 scientific publications on subjects related to the Motor Industry.  

He was the recipient of an NHTSA Safety Award in 1982 for his research into side impact protection and aluminium structures. He is married to Martina and they have four children, three girls and a boy. 

He is an extremely skilled test and development driver with wide experience of single seat racing cars, sports cars and off-road vehicles. His hobbies include a broad range of sports - skiing, tennis, mountain biking and golf.  

(July 6, 2000)